Category Archives: wake and bake

Spoiling Our Children

Alright, it’s not that we haven’t already exceeded the limits of anthropomorphism with our dogs. We talk to them. We laugh at and with them as if we are jovial pals. We teach them tricks. We dress them up. We give up sleep space to them. We teach them how to sing. We hide theirContinue reading “Spoiling Our Children”

Haru

Japanese for Spring. Having been self-quarantined since last September, our first little foray out of the house was to the Japanese Friendship Garden in downtown Phoenix on Saturday. I know, a trip downtown? But this is to one of my favorite little parks in Phoenix and it was for Haru, the celebration of the SpringContinue reading “Haru”

The Grind

I continue with the reading of my book. As promised, under the letter “F” the first emotion is fearful. Here is the preface followed by the short story Amazon. Now starting next Monday since I have run out of original music, I will be playing one of the songs from my previously-posted playlist. I haveContinue reading “The Grind”

They Don’t Teach This in a Book

I learned early. I am six years-old on the back of my brother’s Honda Cub and we are winding through narrow Japanese dirt streets lined with vendors of all types: Household goods. Meat. Fish. Electronics (such as they were in 1960 Japan). Restaurants. Brothels. Yep, right there next to the tent that was selling frozenContinue reading “They Don’t Teach This in a Book”

Fear

What scares you? The first thing I remember that really scared the hell out of me was the 1960 classic The Fall of the House of Usher. That maniacal laugh of Vincent Price still gives me chills to this day. My parents had loaded us kids in the family car and pulled into the localContinue reading “Fear”

Reading

Reading rocks. You’re doing it now. I started reading at a very early age. My big brother Ed, eight years my senior, would take immense delight teasing my sister, who was four years older than I. He would have her try and read the “Acknowledgements” page of any book. Like any other normal child ofContinue reading “Reading”

Everclear

I am 18 years of age, pissing fire and crapping lightning. And no, those weren’t medical conditions, just feeling pretty much like a badass. I was invincible. Then someone handed me a mason jar of clear liquid that inexorably altered my existence on planet Earth. Everclear. Now I am on the record as being aContinue reading “Everclear”

Loyalty

Throughout my life, I have placed a very high premium on loyalty. Maybe even too high a premium. If someone displays loyalty to me, there is absolutely nothing I won’t do for them. In my own case, I do not seek out loyalty, but greatly value it when I receive it. I am loyal toContinue reading “Loyalty”

Embarrassing and Economical

The audio book excerpt from my book Emotions: Not your Mama’s ABC’s! this week is for two short-short stories I included under the letter “E.” The first is called Perfect Fit and the other is titled Point of View. I recounted a story of THE MOST EMBARRASSING THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME in aContinue reading “Embarrassing and Economical”